The New Encyclopedia of Birds

As the title suggests, this weighty tome is a fully revised and updated successor to the same editors’ Encyclopedia of Birds published in 1990. It is part of the outstanding series of revised Oxford University Press encyclopedias, two of which have already been reviewed in these columns (The New Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians(RR 2003/140) and New Encyclopedia of Insects and Their Allies(RR 2003/202)). The high standards set by these predecessors are effortlessly maintained. It helps having such a distinguished editor. Christopher Perrins was Professor of Ornithology at Oxford University, a former Director of the...